BML light dimmer

3498 Views 8 Replies 4 Participants Last post by alphabeta, Oct 23, 2016

Fujiija

Discussion Starter · Oct 20, 2016

I really need to dim my BML light. BML (now called Fluence Bioengineering) doesn't sell the manual dimmer anymore and I don't want to buy the SoLunar which they do sell.

Does anybody know where to buy the old BML dimmer or what are the specs to buy something similar off the shelf? I don't need something fancy - I just need to dim my light. I bought something that resembled the "splitter" cable (that they also used to sell) so I could hook up two lights to one dimmer but I must have gotten the specs wrong and the cable didn't work.

Any ideas?

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jeffkrol

· #2 · Oct 20, 2016 (Edited by Moderator)

Driver dim circuit is either a 10k pot or 0-10v...Can't remember which one or if both are usable (0-10V is APEX and they work w/ apex..soooooooo)..
You can try a 10K potentiometer between the 2 wires..
If there are 3 wires gets a bit tricky though..One wire is a 10V "feed"...

This is the 10v dim type (actually divers may be multi-protocol..will get to that in a minute):
Ferduino Aquarium Controller ? View topic - BML Fixtures
IGNORE the circuit for a minute here. Just showing the driver markings
In-door AC w/ constant current output.
025= 250mA
0-10v dimming
standard 3 pin
Drivers are made by Inventronics (at least many). you can take the model # and hunt for specs.

Here see pg 16..
http://www2.futurelightingsolutions...tronics LED Driver Catalogue 20130806 PDF.pdf

figured I'd add this:

Our drivers use the 0-10V dimming standard, which is a globally recognized dimming protocol. As a dimming control, our fixtures dim from 10%-100% via the 0-10V signals. If you want to turn the drivers completely off, you need to add a relay to the power line (i.e. timer outlet, ES8 from Apex, etc.). After working with the guys at Neptune, our fixtures now work seamlessly with Apex controllers.

Nick

Need to clear something up. It has been awhile since looking at these.
Yellow wire is 12V (aux) voltage..

Arrrrgggg.... crazy drivers..
Better pdf...
http://www.inventronics-co.com/upload/LUC-066TxxxDSM(SSM)_2013071703242909311.PDF

Shouldn't be this hard..

Check out the wire colors inside the jack.

see pg 6..
Should be self explanatory..
Depending on where you put the 1kOhm resistor will determine the size of the pot..

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Fujiija

Discussion Starter · #3 · Oct 21, 2016

jeffkrol - appreciate the time you took to write the message.

I was thinking of showing up at Radio Shack and asking them for parts! LOL. I am not an electrical engineer - just a plant grower.

I'll have to read your message a few more times and see if I can figure out what to do.

I looked at Apex at one time but the Apex Junior didn't have the capability I need to dim. Then I looked at the regular Apex system but I think you still need to buy an add-on piece for dimming of lights. Why is this all so expensive? I wish BML was still selling aquarium stuff...

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jeffkrol

· #4 · Oct 21, 2016

Fujiija said:
jeffkrol - appreciate the time you took to write the message.

I was thinking of showing up at Radio Shack and asking them for parts! LOL. I am not an electrical engineer - just a plant grower.

I'll have to read your message a few more times and see if I can figure out what to do.

I looked at Apex at one time but the Apex Junior didn't have the capability I need to dim. Then I looked at the regular Apex system but I think you still need to buy an add-on piece for dimming of lights. Why is this all so expensive? I wish BML was still selling aquarium stuff...

So do you want manual or automatic dimming?
Manual is cheap..after you confirm the driver has 3 wires on the dim plug side.. Then it is just a 1kOhm resistor and say 15kOhm potentiometer..following my last pdf mentioned above..

Automatically is another story..though w/ some work, can be done a lot cheaper than w/ an Apex..

MAIN thing to keep in mind that 0-10v dimming never goes to full "off"...so you need a timer on the driver AC line..to kill the driver to shut the light all the way off..

Personally this 0-10v thing is not what I like to see, no matter how 'Industry standard" it is..

Many of the cheaper controller have 5V PWM... in which case you need to sort of fake it..
This works well.. 10V power supply (any amperage, lower the better, or sacrifice some output using a 9V DC wall wart (very common but MAKE sure you test it, some are labelled 9v but output muchh more ) and this little MOSFET circuit and a controller like a Typhon or Storm or Storm X or bluefish mini..
Dim out of the programmer goes to PWM in this diagram..

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alphabeta

· #5 · Oct 21, 2016 (Edited by Moderator)

jeffkrol can you give some hints on how to build a splitter cable for these dimmers? Apparently a simple AUX audio slitter does not work. a schematic would be great.

just opened my dimmer: it has one potentiometer RV24YN 20S B203 20K with 3 wires dirrectly connected to it.

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jeffkrol

· #6 · Oct 22, 2016 (Edited)

alphabeta said:
just opened my dimmer: it has one potentiometer RV24YN 20S B203 20K with 3 wires dirrectly connected to it.

Just build another one around 20K .25w POT..

One thing to check is using a VOM see what voltage the yellow wire is carrying..
12 or 10v?

Rx would be the pot..wiper and one end..

sorry I can't be more specific. This is one of those things that I have done (w/ Meanwell ELN's and a separate voltage source) but find difficult to explain...

This might help:

Dim plus should be purple.
10(12)V should be yellow
Dim minus should be grey

What I don't know is if, when using their splitter.. you tap BOTH yellows or just one as a power source..
That is why I suggest a separate one..
http://www.bmlhorticulture.com/dimming-splitter-cable/

You probably only need to run the purple/grey to the second driver..ignoring the yellow on it. so one plug has 2 used zones, the other 3..
sort of a master/slave arrangement..

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alphabeta

· #7 · Oct 22, 2016

jeffkrol, thanks a lot, very helpful. Indeed, instead of guessing the wiring diagram, it is easier to build a new dimmer.
thanks again for the detailed instructions.

Fujiija, we are in business

jeffkrol said:
Just build another one around 20K .25w POT..

One thing to check is using a VOM see what voltage the yellow wire is carrying..
12 or 10v?

Rx would be the pot..wiper and one end..

sorry I can't be more specific. This is one of those things that I have done (w/ Meanwell ELN's and a separate voltage source) but find difficult to explain...
...